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The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Technical failure in ballast water management could have led to sinking of ship, say officials
Preliminary findings of the probe into the sinking of container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast with 640 containers on board point to technical failure in ballast water management, which in turn caused the ship to tilt over 20 degrees and sink, officials of the Shipping Ministry and the Mercantile Marine department (MMD) said here on Wednesday. The officials included Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan; Nautical Advisor to the Government of India Capt. Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Surveyor of the Directorate General of Shipping Ajith Sukumaran, and Principal Officer of the MMD's Kochi office J. Senthil Kumar. Mr. Jagannathan said none of the 50 containers that were washed ashore along the 120-km coastline of Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram during the past few days had any hazardous cargo like calcium carbide. Most containers were empty, while the others had cotton bales and plastic pellets. The containers will be recovered in two days and disposed of. 'No sabotage' The prime focus now is on recovering oil and other pollutants from the vessel, followed by containers which are said to have cargo like ethylene polymers. The ship's owner firm MSC has roped in global firms with expertise in retrieving such cargo, while the Indian Coast Guard's specialised oil spill response team has been deployed to prevent damage to marine resources. There are internationally binding norms to settle insurance claims and compensate fishers from the Kerala coast for their loss of livelihood, he said and added that prima facie there was no reason to suspect sabotage. Terming the sinking incident as the largest along the Indian coast, Mr. Sukumaran said that preliminary inference pointed to mechanical failure in ballast water management, a safety precaution that is taken in all ships to overcome the effect of 'rolling and pitching' while on the sea, and the subsequent loss of power. This could have been caused by the malfunctioning of the ballast management valves. Old ships On several shipping firms deploying old vessels to Indian ports (the sunk ship was 28 years old), he said many stakeholders had expressed concern about the matter. Steps were under way to revise safety and other norms in this regard. The officials said that although the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had not issued any age-related norms for ships, there were concerns about the operational efficiency of older vessels. Mr. Azad explained how a team of salvage specialists, naval architects, chemists, oil spill specialists, and divers was deployed to salvage the vessel and the containers, and to contain the effects of oil spillage and pollution. A total of four tugs have been mobilised as part of this. On the delay in officially declaring the contents of 13 containers having 'hazardous' cargo, he said the owner of the ship had said that they contained 'rubber chemicals' which were non-hazardous. While five of them were on the ship's deck, eight were secured within the vessel's 'cargo hold' area. According to the plan, oil spill in the vicinity of the sinking spot can be cleared by July 3. The ship was carrying 367 tonnes of very low sulfur fuel oil and 84 tonnes of marine diesel fuel.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Coast Guard confirms oil spill after container vessel sinks off Kerala coast, swings into action
KOCHI: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Monday confirmed oil spill in the Arabian sea, around the area off Kerala's coast where MSC Elsa 3, a Liberia-flagged container vessel carrying hazardous cargo and calcium carbide, sunk the day before. It has deployed three vessels and an aircraft for counter-pollution operations. The Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Vessels ICGS Saksham, ICGS Vikram and ICGS Samarth utilised infrared cameras to detect the oil spill area and sprayed OSD (Oil Spill Dispersant) to contain the spread. A Dornier aircraft is conducting aerial assessment and OSD dispersal in the 2x1 nautical miles area where the spill has been detected. The vessels are churning the waters using hoses and propeller to mix the dispersant. Meanwhile, ICG Ship Samudra Prahari, a specialised pollution response vessel carrying significant quantities of OSD, has set sail from Mumbai and is expected to reach Kochi on Tuesday. The Coast Guard said in a release: 'At approximately 0750 hrs on May 25, MSC Elsa 3 sank around 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, southwest of Alappuzha. The maritime incident has raised environmental concerns, including the potential for oil spill impact and drifting of debris and cargo ashore along Kerala's coastline. Within 2-3 hours of the vessel's submergence, the ICG surveillance aircraft detected the presence of an oil slick at the site at 11 am, the oil slick was observed drifting in east-southeast direction at an estimated speed of 1.5-2 knots (around 3.7 kmph). By 2pm, the spill was assessed to have spread over an area of approximately 2x1 nautical miles' The ship had 84.44 tonnes of diesel and 367.1 tonnes of furnace oil when it sank, and this caused the oil spill. Statement of ship's crew to be recorded today Confirming that the oil slick has not reached the shores, ICG has advised the state administration to prepare for shoreline cleanup operations. The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) , Kochi, has issued a warning to the vessel's owners regarding pollution liability and launched an investigation into the incident. MMD principal officer and Joint Director J Senthil Kumar met the 24 crew members of the sunken vessel on Monday. As the crew were yet to recover from the trauma, the MMD decided to record their statements on Tuesday.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
Boat capsize: Kerala on high alert, efforts on to avert major marine crisis
All company representatives of MSC have arrived in Kochi and have been advised to visit both the Indian Coast Guard and MMD offices, Sonowal said Dhruvaksh Saha Shine Jacob New Delhi/Chennai Listen to This Article With Kerala being on high alert through a state-wide 'emergency' — after the capsize of cargo vessel MSC ELSA III off the Kochi coast — the Centre is also stepping up action. The Indian Coast Guard deployed three capital ships — ICG Samarth, ICG Saksham, and ICG Vikram — as part of an urgent multi-agency effort to prevent a marine pollution emergency. The Kerala government has declared a state-wide emergency, a coastal alert for districts along the Arabian Sea. Concerns increased over a possible leak of oil and hazardous chemicals after the 184-metre-long vessel, en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi,
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu trade revives as Shipping Directorate eases foul weather norm
THOOTHUKUDI: The Directorate General of Shipping, in a circular dated May 19, relaxed foul weather norms for the operation of Mechanised Sailing Vessels (MSV), or thonies, between Thoothukudi and Sri Lanka, which would allow trade operations throughout the year. Operators say this has come as a shot in the arm for maritime trade between the two countries. Hitherto, the Merchantile Marine Department (MMD) allowed MSVs to set sail only between September and April, which is considered fair weather period. The period from May to August is considered foul weather period and MSVs remain moored in harbour. Mechanised sailing vessel operators hope the development will help them reclaim trade with Sri Lanka, which they lost in 2008 due to multiple factors, including the war between LTTE and Lankan military, and severe competition from other operators. 'Except for a few MSVs that supplied essentials during emergencies, none had transported essential goods to Sri Lanka after 2008, ' said Lasington, secretary, Coastal mechanised sail vessel owners' association. Even though trade was permitted during fair weather season, Sri Lankan traders did not engage MSVs after they found other means of transport during foul weather season, he said that lifting foul weather restrictions gives them a chance to reclaim the market.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Micro Medical Devices to Unveil New VF2000 Feature at Vision Expo East 2025
Calabasas, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calabasas, California - Orlando, FL – Micro Medical Devices (MMD), a longstanding innovator in the field of ophthalmic diagnostic technology, is set to showcase its latest advancements at Vision Expo East 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from February 19-22. MMD will be presenting an updated version of its flagship VF2000 VR Vision Testing System, now equipped with a multilingual virtual assistant designed to enhance patient experience and streamline workflow for eye care professionals. Since debuting as the first device of its kind in 2018, the VF2000 VR Visual Field Headset has now expanded its testing capabilities and become a widely adopted solution for optometrists and ophthalmologists seeking a portable, efficient alternative to traditional visual field, FDT, Color Testing equipment, and more. With the introduction of its new virtual assistant feature, the latest iteration of the VF2000 aims to further improve testing efficiency while ensuring better patient compliance. One of the standout features of this update is its ability to guide patients through testing procedures in multiple languages. This virtual assistant provides clear, step-by-step instructions, reducing the need for staff intervention and allowing practices to accommodate a more diverse patient population. "For eye care professionals, this update is more than just a convenience, it's a time-saving innovation that ensures patients receive consistent, easy-to-follow instructions in their preferred language," said Ramin Hooriani, President of Micro Medical Devices. "By integrating a virtual assistant, we're making visual field testing more accessible while helping doctors and technicians focus on patient care." The new feature is particularly valuable in multilingual communities, where language barriers can sometimes lead to confusion or miscommunication during testing. By offering verbal instructions tailored to the patient's language preference along with on-screen animations and tutorials, the VF2000 enhances the accuracy of test results while improving the overall patient experience. Visual field testing is a critical component of eye exams, especially for detecting conditions such as glaucoma and other optic nerve disorders. Traditional testing equipment can be time-consuming, take up valuable practice space, and require frequent staff involvement, but the VF2000 is a portable, VR headset that allows for flexible and efficient testing in any clinical setting. The addition of the virtual assistant helps further streamline the process, minimizing the need for repeated instructions from technicians and reducing potential testing errors. The VF2000 is available in two models, the G2 and the NEO, each offering advanced features tailored to different practice needs. The VF2000 G2 builds upon MMD's cutting-edge software and expands the clinical scope beyond standard visual field testing. It features high-resolution 4K internal optics and supports a wide range of self-guided vision screenings, including Full and Fast Thresholds VF Testing, FDT Testing, Stereopsis, Contrast Sensitivity, Color and Complex Color Testing, and Visual Acuity. The VF2000 NEO takes versatility further with added Active Eye Tracking, providing enhanced reliability and precision during testing. In addition to the optional advanced screening modules of the G2, the NEO can also include Pupillary reaction testing, making it the most customizable and comprehensive model available. Both devices are designed to optimize practice efficiency while maintaining the accuracy and repeatability that eye care professionals rely on. MMD invites attendees at Vision Expo East 2025 to visit their booth and experience the new VF2000 update firsthand. Existing VF2000 users can explore the new feature and learn how to integrate it into their practice, while prospective customers can see the potential this advanced technology could bring into their diagnostic workflow. As one of the premier events in the optometry and ophthalmology industry, Vision Expo East provides a platform for leading manufacturers, clinicians, and innovators to connect and explore the latest advancements in eye care technology. Micro Medical Devices will be available throughout the event to demonstrate the VF2000 and answer questions about its expanded capabilities. For more information about the VF2000 VR Visual Field Headset and MMD products, visit or stop by the Micro Medical Devices booth at Vision Expo East 2025. About Micro Medical Devices Since their inception over two decades ago, Micro Medical Devices has been dedicated to developing technology that is user-friendly, portable, and efficient while minimizing the need for dedicated practice space and advanced training to operate. This continued commitment has allowed MMD to provide eye doctors with the latest in cutting-edge technological innovations to provide the best care to their patients. To learn more about the products that Micro Medical Devices offers, please visit ### For more information about Micro Medical Devices, contact the company here:Micro Medical DevicesTim Flannery(818) Calabasas Rd #110, Calabasas, CA 91302 CONTACT: Tim FlannerySign in to access your portfolio
